Kansas Doctor and His Wife Convicted in ‘Pill Mill’ Conspiracy

June 25 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A physician and his wife have been found guilty of conspiracy and illegal prescription charges in Kansas which contributed to 68 patients suffering death by overdose when they were over prescribed pain medications.

Dr. Stephen and Linda Schneider were both taken immediately into custody once the verdicts were read by a federal court on Thursday. The doctor was found guilty and convicted of 19 of the 34 counts, and his wife was found guilty of 32 of the counts. They were charged with illegally prescribing narcotics, money laundering, and conspiracy.

The clinic which the Schneiders ran was called a “pill mill” by prosecutors, and was used to cater to drug addicts, according to the argument. The clinic was located in Haysville, Kansas which is just south of Witchita.

The Schneiders, however, argued that they were providing honest medical care, but they may have been tricked by a few patients. Apparently, the jury felt differently, and sided with the prosecution.

The couple have two adopted daughters, originally from Romania, who are in their late teens. It was said that the girls were sobbing as the jury read the verdict and that the Schneiders were “shocked” by the trial’s outcome. Their attorney claims that the jury was influenced by pretrial hype, and promises an appeal.

But the husband of one of the patients who died of a prescription drug overdose at the early age of 45 felt much differently. “It’s been a long time coming and we feel like justice has finally been served,” said Robert Wick to The Associated Press